🏠 Real Estate Series

Rent Vs Buy The 5 Percent Rule Series

A 9-part guide

This 9-part series provides comprehensive coverage of Rent Vs Buy The 5 Percent Rule. Topics include Rent Vs Buy The 5 Percent Rule, Hidden Closing Costs, Pmi Myths, The Inspection Contingency, Property Tax Appeals, Home Warranty Vs Emergency Fund, Condo Townhouse Single Family, Buying With Friends Or Partner, New Construction Pitfalls.

9 articles52 min total reading

Articles in this series

01

Rent Vs Buy The 5 Percent Rule

Rent vs. Buy: The 5% Rule (Ben Felix Style) ============================================ The cultural narrative around homeownership is nearly unassailable. Buying a home is framed as the...

5 min readhomerulemortgage
02

Hidden Closing Costs

Hidden Closing Costs: Title, Escrow, and Points ================================================ You've been pre-approved for a mortgage and found a home at $420,000. You have $84,000 savedβ€”a 20%...

6 min readclosingloancosts
03

Pmi Myths

PMI Myths: How to Drop It Early ================================ Private mortgage insurance is one of the most consistently misunderstood costs in homeownership. Some buyers avoid homes they can...

6 min readpmiloancancellation
04

The Inspection Contingency

The Inspection Contingency: 10 Deal-Breaker Findings ==================================================== A home inspection is three hours and $400 to $600 that could save you $50,000β€”or an entire...

6 min readinspectionhomeclosing
05

Property Tax Appeals

Property Tax Appeals: When and How to Fight Your Assessment =========================================================== Property taxes are the largest recurring cost many homeowners pay after the...

6 min readvalueappealassessment
06

Home Warranty Vs Emergency Fund

Home Warranty vs. Emergency Fund: Which Saves More Money? ========================================================= Home warranties are marketed aggressively to new buyers, often by the seller as...

5 min readhomewarrantyfund
07

Condo Townhouse Single Family

Condo vs. Townhouse vs. Single-Family: HOA Tradeoffs ===================================================== The housing type you choose shapes not just your living experience but your financial...

6 min readhoacondoreserve
08

Buying With Friends Or Partner

Buying with Friends or a Partner: Legal Co-Ownership Agreements =============================================================== Two people agree to buy a home together. They split the down...

6 min readownerownershipone
09

New Construction Pitfalls

New Construction Pitfalls: Upgrades and Delayed Closings ========================================================= New construction carries an appeal that resale homes can't match: everything is...

6 min readbuilderconstructionnew